News Analysis India

Tag: Presidential polls

  • ‘Nitish refused to pick up my calls when I sought support’: Yashwant Sinha attacks JDU supremo

    By PTI

    PATNA: The opposition’s Presidential poll candidate Yashwant Sinha on Friday revealed that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar refused to take his calls when he tried to seek the latter’s support for his candidature.

    Sinha, who had been a cabinet colleague of Kumar during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure, also expressed surprise at the lack of support from Bihar’s chief minister given that he had roots in the state and that Odisha’s CM Naveen Patnaik has rooted for Draupadi Murmu as she is a daughter of the state.

    “After I was declared the Presidential candidate by the opposition, I tried to call up Nitish Kumar a number of times. He never answered, perhaps thinking I do not enjoy the status to be worthy of his time”, said Sinha, betraying a sense of insult and bitterness.

    He was talking to reporters after canvassing for the July 18 polls.

    Leader of the opposition in Bihar assembly Tejashwi Yadav, Bollywood actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha and former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani’s close aide Sudheendra Kulkarni were among those present on the occasion.

    Sinha said “it will be good for Bihar if, after a gap of 60 years, another son of the soil occupies the top post which was held by Dr Rajendra Prasad. This is the city where I was born, received my education, taught at the Patna University and served in my capacity as a Bihar cadre IAS officer”.

    The former BJP leader said he “failed to understand” why Nitish Kumar, who had refused to support another Bihari Meira Kumar in the last Presidential polls, was still not ready to take a leaf out of Patnaik’s book or that of the Shiv Sena which had supported Pratibha Patil because she was a Maharashtrian though fielded by the Congress-led UPA to which it was opposed at that time.

    The outspoken bureaucrat-turned-politician, who has been alleging that Murmu will be a “rubber stamp” asked people to recall the photograph of filing of nomination papers by the NDA candidate in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    “People talk of Pratibha Patil as having been a rubber stamp but even when she was in the fray she handed over her own papers. The then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh looked on. In the case of Murmu, it was the current Prime Minister who handed over the papers. That image is a screaming sign of the shape of things to come”, said Sinha.

    He was also full of praise for Tejashwi Yadav, with whose father Lalu Prasad he has had many slanging matches on the floor of the Parliament.

    “Tejashwi Yadav has done a wonderful job in rallying along different parties in the opposition. The state, like the country, has fallen in wrong hands. I hope people will repose their trust in him”, said Sinha.

    Speaking on the sidelines of the press conference, Shatrughan Sinha, who wears his love for his home state on his sleeves, thereby earning the epithet “Bihari babu”, hoped that Yashwant Sinha will get wholehearted support from the state.

    “It is an election in which no whip is issued. It is a historic opportunity to heed one’s conscience and act in national interest. The game is not over till votes are cast”, said the Asansol MP.

    Sinha on Friday termed a new list of words deemed “unparliamentary” and a circular forbidding demonstrations inside the Sansad Bhavan premises were the latest in a series of “unprecedented assaults” on democracy in the country.

    Addressing a press conference here as part of his campaign, the former Union minister claimed the parliamentary system of democracy, under the current regime, looked “pangu” (crippled) and urged the public to “wake up” before it was too late.

    “In every democratic system, the House of directly elected representatives allows for free debate. This is a reason why words uttered inside Parliament fall outside the ambit of judicial review. With all types of words which can be used to criticize the government deemed unparliamentary now, we are witnessing yet another assault on the country’s lokshahi (democracy)”, said Sinha, who has served as a Member of Parliament for several terms.

    The bureaucrat turned politician who had held important portfolios such as Minister for External Affairs and Finance in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, also expressed outrage over the circular that forbids MPs from staging a demonstration in front of a imposing statue of Mahatma Gandhi within the Parliament complex.

    “Parliamentary system of democracy is all about debates and discussions, on the floor as well as outside and at various committees. But the country and the Constitution seems to have gone into wrong hands. Democracy is under attack on an unprecedented scale, on a daily basis. It has never looked so crippled (pangu)”, he added.

    Sinha, who was a Bihar cadre IAS officer until he took the political plunge four decades ago, also referred to the Agnipath controversy which had left the state in throes of a violent protest.

    “In every country, there is a military service and there is a national service which provides the youth with an opportunity to serve on an ad hoc basis. Agnipath falls in neither category. The Agniveers will be on streets (sadak veer) after completing four years of service and we cannot imagine the social unrest it will lead to,” he noted grimly.

    Sinha acknowledged that as per the Constitution, the President did not enjoy many powers but asserted that a right person for the job “could summon the Prime Minister and advise him on various issues”.

    “The problem is that there is no mechanism in place which can put a check on the current regime’s recklessness”, said the former BJP leader.

    PATNA: The opposition’s Presidential poll candidate Yashwant Sinha on Friday revealed that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar refused to take his calls when he tried to seek the latter’s support for his candidature.

    Sinha, who had been a cabinet colleague of Kumar during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure, also expressed surprise at the lack of support from Bihar’s chief minister given that he had roots in the state and that Odisha’s CM Naveen Patnaik has rooted for Draupadi Murmu as she is a daughter of the state.

    “After I was declared the Presidential candidate by the opposition, I tried to call up Nitish Kumar a number of times. He never answered, perhaps thinking I do not enjoy the status to be worthy of his time”, said Sinha, betraying a sense of insult and bitterness.

    He was talking to reporters after canvassing for the July 18 polls.

    Leader of the opposition in Bihar assembly Tejashwi Yadav, Bollywood actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha and former Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani’s close aide Sudheendra Kulkarni were among those present on the occasion.

    Sinha said “it will be good for Bihar if, after a gap of 60 years, another son of the soil occupies the top post which was held by Dr Rajendra Prasad. This is the city where I was born, received my education, taught at the Patna University and served in my capacity as a Bihar cadre IAS officer”.

    The former BJP leader said he “failed to understand” why Nitish Kumar, who had refused to support another Bihari Meira Kumar in the last Presidential polls, was still not ready to take a leaf out of Patnaik’s book or that of the Shiv Sena which had supported Pratibha Patil because she was a Maharashtrian though fielded by the Congress-led UPA to which it was opposed at that time.

    The outspoken bureaucrat-turned-politician, who has been alleging that Murmu will be a “rubber stamp” asked people to recall the photograph of filing of nomination papers by the NDA candidate in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    “People talk of Pratibha Patil as having been a rubber stamp but even when she was in the fray she handed over her own papers. The then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh looked on. In the case of Murmu, it was the current Prime Minister who handed over the papers. That image is a screaming sign of the shape of things to come”, said Sinha.

    He was also full of praise for Tejashwi Yadav, with whose father Lalu Prasad he has had many slanging matches on the floor of the Parliament.

    “Tejashwi Yadav has done a wonderful job in rallying along different parties in the opposition. The state, like the country, has fallen in wrong hands. I hope people will repose their trust in him”, said Sinha.

    Speaking on the sidelines of the press conference, Shatrughan Sinha, who wears his love for his home state on his sleeves, thereby earning the epithet “Bihari babu”, hoped that Yashwant Sinha will get wholehearted support from the state.

    “It is an election in which no whip is issued. It is a historic opportunity to heed one’s conscience and act in national interest. The game is not over till votes are cast”, said the Asansol MP.

    Sinha on Friday termed a new list of words deemed “unparliamentary” and a circular forbidding demonstrations inside the Sansad Bhavan premises were the latest in a series of “unprecedented assaults” on democracy in the country.

    Addressing a press conference here as part of his campaign, the former Union minister claimed the parliamentary system of democracy, under the current regime, looked “pangu” (crippled) and urged the public to “wake up” before it was too late.

    “In every democratic system, the House of directly elected representatives allows for free debate. This is a reason why words uttered inside Parliament fall outside the ambit of judicial review. With all types of words which can be used to criticize the government deemed unparliamentary now, we are witnessing yet another assault on the country’s lokshahi (democracy)”, said Sinha, who has served as a Member of Parliament for several terms.

    The bureaucrat turned politician who had held important portfolios such as Minister for External Affairs and Finance in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, also expressed outrage over the circular that forbids MPs from staging a demonstration in front of a imposing statue of Mahatma Gandhi within the Parliament complex.

    “Parliamentary system of democracy is all about debates and discussions, on the floor as well as outside and at various committees. But the country and the Constitution seems to have gone into wrong hands. Democracy is under attack on an unprecedented scale, on a daily basis. It has never looked so crippled (pangu)”, he added.

    Sinha, who was a Bihar cadre IAS officer until he took the political plunge four decades ago, also referred to the Agnipath controversy which had left the state in throes of a violent protest.

    “In every country, there is a military service and there is a national service which provides the youth with an opportunity to serve on an ad hoc basis. Agnipath falls in neither category. The Agniveers will be on streets (sadak veer) after completing four years of service and we cannot imagine the social unrest it will lead to,” he noted grimly.

    Sinha acknowledged that as per the Constitution, the President did not enjoy many powers but asserted that a right person for the job “could summon the Prime Minister and advise him on various issues”.

    “The problem is that there is no mechanism in place which can put a check on the current regime’s recklessness”, said the former BJP leader.

  • Acharya Pramod Krishnam of Congress  bats for Murmu as President, urges party to review decision

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Senior Congress leader and head of Kalki Ashram Acharya Pramod Krishnam on Thursday advocated the support to NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu in upcoming Presidential polls on July 18.

    Taking to the Twitter on Wednesday night, Acharya Pramod Krishnam aired his views contrary to the Congress party line. The leader even went a step further suggesting the party high command to review its decision over the support to the presidential candidate.

    He posted: Since the times of Pundit Moti Lal Nehru, the Congress has always stood by the exploited, deprived and tribals. In my opinion, opposing a woman, coming from tribal community, in the presidential election is not appropriate. Party high command should rethink over it.”

    The opinion of Acharya Krishnam, who is one of the front runners in the race to the post of UP Congress Committee (UPCC) chief, assumes significance as the AICC chief Sonia Gandhi had convened a meeting of senior Congress leaders at her residence to discuss party’s stance in presidential election besides other issues.

    ALSO READ | Droupadi Murmu visit: BJP to woo Chhattisgarh tribals

    Earlier, reacting to the grand welcome extended to Opposition’s presidential candidate and former minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee cabinet, Yashwant Sinha by senior Congress leader Kamalnath at his residence in Bhopal on Wednesday morning, Acharya Krishnam had posted a critical tweet saying: “Look what a situation has arrived. They could have, at least, fielded a Congressman.”

    Even before this, Acharya Pramod Krishnam had been making statements contradictory to Congress’s official stand. On 12 July, when Yashwant Sinha was in Lucknow and had said that if elected as the President, he would act as the custodian of the Constitution preventing the government from doing anything such thing which could hurt and harm the democratic values of the country– such as toppling the elected state governments, Acharya Krishnam had tagged Sinha’s statement and tweeted: Na nau man tel hoga, na Radha Nachengi (It will never happen as Sinha will not win).

    ALSO READ | Presidential election: Shiv Sena to support NDA’s candidate Droupadi Murmu

    Even earlier also, Acharya Pramod Krishnam and Congress Communication head Jairam Ramesh had been seen sparring over various issues like Udaipur killing and Maharashtra political crisis.In the aftermath of the beheading of Tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udiapur, Krishnam had responded to a tweet by Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot condemning the incident by asking why the victim was not provided security despite receiving life threats.

    “Along side the killers, the police and administration are equally responsible. Why has there not been any action against SSP, DIG till now? Is the government’s authority totally finished in Rajasthan?” Krishnam had asked through a twitter post.

    To this Jairam Ramesh had suggested him to think before crossing the ‘Lakshman Rekha’ (the line of caution). Even Acharya had exhorted Uddhav Thackrey to quit power when his government hadplunged into crisis. To this, Ramesh had come out to clarify that it was neither the stand of Congress party nor was Pramod Krishnam party’s authorised spokesman.

    LUCKNOW: Senior Congress leader and head of Kalki Ashram Acharya Pramod Krishnam on Thursday advocated the support to NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu in upcoming Presidential polls on July 18.

    Taking to the Twitter on Wednesday night, Acharya Pramod Krishnam aired his views contrary to the Congress party line. The leader even went a step further suggesting the party high command to review its decision over the support to the presidential candidate.

    He posted: Since the times of Pundit Moti Lal Nehru, the Congress has always stood by the exploited, deprived and tribals. In my opinion, opposing a woman, coming from tribal community, in the presidential election is not appropriate. Party high command should rethink over it.”

    The opinion of Acharya Krishnam, who is one of the front runners in the race to the post of UP Congress Committee (UPCC) chief, assumes significance as the AICC chief Sonia Gandhi had convened a meeting of senior Congress leaders at her residence to discuss party’s stance in presidential election besides other issues.

    ALSO READ | Droupadi Murmu visit: BJP to woo Chhattisgarh tribals

    Earlier, reacting to the grand welcome extended to Opposition’s presidential candidate and former minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee cabinet, Yashwant Sinha by senior Congress leader Kamalnath at his residence in Bhopal on Wednesday morning, Acharya Krishnam had posted a critical tweet saying: “Look what a situation has arrived. They could have, at least, fielded a Congressman.”

    Even before this, Acharya Pramod Krishnam had been making statements contradictory to Congress’s official stand. On 12 July, when Yashwant Sinha was in Lucknow and had said that if elected as the President, he would act as the custodian of the Constitution preventing the government from doing anything such thing which could hurt and harm the democratic values of the country– such as toppling the elected state governments, Acharya Krishnam had tagged Sinha’s statement and tweeted: Na nau man tel hoga, na Radha Nachengi (It will never happen as Sinha will not win).

    ALSO READ | Presidential election: Shiv Sena to support NDA’s candidate Droupadi Murmu

    Even earlier also, Acharya Pramod Krishnam and Congress Communication head Jairam Ramesh had been seen sparring over various issues like Udaipur killing and Maharashtra political crisis.
    In the aftermath of the beheading of Tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udiapur, Krishnam had responded to a tweet by Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot condemning the incident by asking why the victim was not provided security despite receiving life threats.

    “Along side the killers, the police and administration are equally responsible. Why has there not been any action against SSP, DIG till now? Is the government’s authority totally finished in Rajasthan?” Krishnam had asked through a twitter post.

    To this Jairam Ramesh had suggested him to think before crossing the ‘Lakshman Rekha’ (the line of caution). Even Acharya had exhorted Uddhav Thackrey to quit power when his government had
    plunged into crisis. To this, Ramesh had come out to clarify that it was neither the stand of Congress party nor was Pramod Krishnam party’s authorised spokesman.

  • Miffed with Sena, Aghadi allies hint at rethinking ties

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray’s decision of extending support to BJP nominee Draupadi Murmu for the Presidential poll has not gone well with his allies— the Congress and NCP. Uddhav had said that they took the decision keeping the “larger interest of the country” in view.

    Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat said the Sena faction led by Uddhav is part of Maha Vikas Aghadi so they should have consulted with alliance partners before announcing support to Murmu. Thorat also said the Presidential elections does not refer to a fight between any particular community or caste, rather it’s an ideological fight.

    A senior NCP leader also said that in crisis, Congress and NCP stood with Uddhav when his own had left him. “The entire defections in Shiv Sena was orchestrated and engineered by the BJP and still Shiv Sena president wants to support the BJP candidate. This stand really baffles us. Even when he took such a decision, he should have informed us that he is taking a different stand.”

    Earlier NCP chief Sharad Pawar had expressed displeasure over Uddhav’s decision of renaming Aurangabad as Sambhaji Nagar while Osmanabad as Dharashiv in his last cabinet meeting. Pawar said, while taking such decisions his partners were not consulted.  Congress high command had also sought a report on renaming these two places from Maharashtra Congress. Congress was against renaming any city or support agenda of Shiv Sena, but they did not oppose the idea during the meeting.

    A senior Congress leader said they had formed Maha Vikas Aghadi in order to form government in Maharashtra. “Congress and NCP are secular parties while Shiv Sena is a Hindutva party. Now, we are in opposition. So the time has come whether to remain in Maha Vikas Aghadi and continue to support Shiv Sena’s agenda indirectly. We have to take our stand for the long run and expand the party base. We cannot drag ourselves behind Shiv Sena anymore. Very soon, we will have a meeting in this regard,” he added.

  • Rajbhar’s party yet to take call on presidential election, keeps Opposition camp guessing

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW/BALLIA: Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, which has kept ally Samajwadi Party guessing on whom it will vote for in the presidential election, will take a call on Saturday after meeting SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, a party leader said.

    However, SP party leader Udaiveer Singh, whose name was taken by the SBSP leader for finalising the meeting, said “no such meeting has been fixed”.

    As chinks appear in the opposition alliance in Uttar Pradesh, the SBSP has been sending mixed signals on whether its MLAs will vote for opposition nominee Yashwant Sinha or ruling NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu.

    On Tuesday, an SBSP spokesperson maintained that the party still remained part of the SP-led alliance.

    SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar had earlier said he will announce the party s decision on the presidential election on Tuesday after meeting Akhilesh Yadav on the issue and other matters related to the alliance.

    But spokesperson Arun Rajbhar told PTI that a press conference scheduled for the day has been cancelled.

    He said the SBSP chief will soon meet Yadav.

    He said senior SP leader Udaiveer Singh had earlier told the SBSP that Yadav will meet them in a couple of days.

    He suggested that the planned meeting has got delayed because of the death of party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav’s wife Sadhna Yadav.

    “After having a meeting with Akhilesh Yadav regarding the presidential election, a press conference will be held in Lucknow on July 16,” the SBSP spokesperson, who is party chief’s son, said.

    However, SP leader and former MLC Udaiveer Singh denied claims of the SBSP leader regarding meeting with Akhilesh Yadav.

    “Neither such a meeting is fixed, nor anyone from SBSP has talked to SP or me for seeking the time (from SP Chief),” Singh clarified in a tweet in Hindi.

    Arun Rajbhar earlier maintained that the party remained an ally of the SP.

    “The SBSP is with the SP and will remain with it in the future as well,” he said.

    When asked about a party meeting Tuesday in Ballia s Rasra, he said, “Discussions were held on expanding the party organisation.

    The SBSP chief said that a meeting will be held (with Akhilesh Yadav) by July 16, after which “we will make it clear whom we will vote for,” he said.

    Om Prakash Rajbhar had created a flutter in the opposition camp by attending a dinner hosted by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow last Friday.

    It signalled cracks in the opposition alliance and triggered speculation that Rajbhar could walk out of the coalition that fought the recent assembly election together.

    Shivpal Yadav, who heads the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia), formally an SP ally, also attended the dinner hosted for Murmu.

    Jansatta Dal Loktantrik chief Raghuraj Pratap Singh, also known as Raja Bhaiya, and the lone Bahujan Samaj Party MLA in Uttar Pradesh, Uma Shankar Singh, were also present there.

  • Presidential election: Shiv Sena to support NDA’s candidate Droupadi Murmu

    By Online Desk

    The Shiv Sena on Tuesday announced that it will support the NDA’s Presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu vis-a-vis the non-BJP Opposition’s nominee Yashwant Sinha.

    Sena President Uddhav Thackeray made the formal announcement after a series of consultations with the party MPs, MLAs, and other leaders including tribals.

    “There has been absolutely no pressure from the MPs, as claimed in the media. However, many Sena leaders and office-bearers from tribal communities have requested us. We have taken a decision to support Draupadi Murmu for the President’s elections,” Thackeray told media persons.

    The decision to support Murmu comes a day after 16 MPs told Thackeray to support her as she is a “woman from a tribal community.”

    The Sena said Monday, Thackeray had discussed the Presidential polls issue and other matters in detail at a meeting of most Sena MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha besides some other top leaders.

    “In the past even Balasaheb Thackeray used to hold such consultations with party leaders on major issues and the decisions were made on the basis of the view of their colleagues. At yesterday’s meeting, the candidature of Murmu was also discussed,” said Shiv Sena MP and Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut.

    While emphasising that supporting Murmu doesn’t imply backing the BJP, he said the Sena has all the goodwill for Sinha.

    “Such decisions are based on peoples’ sentiments and even in the past we had supported the candidature of Pratibha Patil (2007), Pranab Mukherjee (2012) when we were with the NDA,” Raut pointed out, suggesting a repeat of its stance in 2022.

    He also rubbished speculation in a section of the media that the Sena is on the verge of a split with even MPs preparing to revolt and join the group led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

    “A majority of our MPs were present at yesterday’s meeting barring Shinde’s son, Dr. Shrikant Shinde and Bhavana Gawali. The party does not take any decisions under pressure and whatever is finally decided, would be binding on all MPs and MLAs,” Raut said.

    Nationalist Congress Party and Congress, the other Maha Vikas Aghadi — of which the Sena is a part — have not yet reacted to the developments.

    Meanwhile, both Murmu and Sinha are expected to be in Mumbai this week to campaign for the President elections and are likely to meet the top leaders of all political parties.

  • ‘Why should we back Murmu in presidential poll?’ Trinamool MP on BJP letter seeking support

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Veteran TMC MP Saugata Roy on Friday said that he and other parliamentarians of his party have received a letter from the Bengal BJP leadership, seeking their support for NDA presidential nominee Droupadi Murmu.

    Roy, in the same breath, also said that lawmakers of his party would vote for joint non-BJP candidate Yashwant Sinha.

    Murmu, who had been touring states for electioneering, is scheduled to visit Kolkata to meet BJP MPs and MLAs from West Bengal.

    “We have received a letter signed by BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar and Leader of the opposition in West Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari, urging us (TMC MPs) to support NDA nominee Droupadi Murmu for presidential polls. They have claimed that Murmu’s victory is certain, and we all should vote for her to strengthen democratic and constitutional norms,” Roy said.

    The veteran TMC MP, however, ruled out any possibility of backing Murmu.

    “Why should we support the NDA candidate when the opposition parties together have fielded Yashwant Sinha? We will vote for Sinha,” he said.

    Last month, Majumdar and Adhikari had written to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, urging her to support Murmu in the July 18 presidential poll.

    The Bengal BJP had in June announced that it would write to all the TMC MPs and MLAs, seeking their support for the NDA nominee.

    Last week, Banerjee had said that Murmu, a tribal BJP leader from Odisha, could have been a consensus candidate had the saffron party discussed with the opposition parties before fielding her.

  • Uttar Pradesh: Murmu seeks support for July 18 presidential polls

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: NDA’s candidate Droupadi Murmu on Friday sought the support of BJP legislators and its alliance partners for the July 18 presidential elections citing her humble background and the work for weaker sections.

    “A woman born in a tribal society has come to you to seek your support. Despite odds, I got higher education on the strength of my strong will power. I have worked lifelong for the deprived sections and tribal society. I am sure that I will get the support of all of you,” she said, according to a BJP release.

    Addressing legislators of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the CM’s residence here, she said, “I call upon every MP and MLA of the state for positive cooperation.”

    Welcoming her, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said they are grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for nominating Murmu for the highest constitutional post of the country.

    This decision has not only been accepted by the NDA constituents with a positive spirit but also seems to be breaking boundaries between parties, he said.

    Appreciating Murmu, he said the commitment with which she has discharged her duties as an MLA and a minister in the past has been appreciated everywhere.

    She never deviated from her values and her dedication for the uplift of the tribal society has been exemplary, the CM said.

    Murmu has been pitted against Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha in the elections.

    Murmu, who arrived in Lucknow to ramp up support for herself for the July 18 elections, was earlier accorded a warm welcome at Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport in Amausi here by senior BJP leaders.

    The meeting was attended by NDA allies Apna Dal (S) and the Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal, sources said.

    The Opposition Samajwadi Party’s ally Om Prakash Rajbhar and Shivpal Singh Yadav attended a dinner hosted by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the honour of Murmu, a development showing chink in the opposition camp that is backing Yashwant Sinha for the post.

  • Murmu to meet NDA MPs, MLAs in Assam to seek support for presidential poll

    By PTI

    GUWAHATI: NDA presidential nominee Droupadi Murmu arrived here late on Tuesday night to seek support for the July 18 poll and will meet MPs and legislators of the ruling BJP and its allies the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the United Peoples’ Party Liberal (UPPL).

    Accompanied by Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Murmu arrived here from Manipur’s capital Imphal and was received at the airport by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

    The NDA presidential candidate’s visit to Assam is part of her campaign for the election. She will have a meeting with MPs and MLAs of the BJP and its allies at a city hotel here on Wednesday to seek votes, party sources here said.

    The BJP has nine Lok Sabha MPs and four parliamentarians in the Upper house while the AGP and the UPPL have one each in Rajya Sabha.

    The 126-member legislative assembly currently comprises 78 MLAs of the ruling NDA with the BJP having 62 legislators, while its allies AGP and UPPL have nine and seven respectively.

    AIUDF Chief Badruddin Ajmal said that his party will also support Murmu. The party has Ajmal as the lone MP in the Lok Sabha besides 15 MLAs in the state legislature.

    Former Union minister Yashwant Sinha is the joint opposition candidate for the upcoming presidential poll and is also scheduled to visit Assam to seek votes from members of parties supporting him.

  • Droupadi Murmu gets emotional, says she is connected to Jharkhand by blood

    Express News Service

    RANCHI: NDA presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu after getting emotional said that she is connected to Jharkhand by blood as her grandmother belonged to the state.

    While addressing the MLAs and MPs belonging to the NDA fold in Ranchi, Murmu also recalled how after the announcement of her candidature, she expressed her apprehension before Prime Minister Narendra Modi that whether she will be able to do justice to the responsibilities of the first woman of this country, to which, Modi responded, “The Constitution will guide and show you the right path.”

    “Prime Minister told me that the way you groomed Jharkhand while being Governor of the state, I am confident that you will also be able to fulfil this responsibility quite efficiently,” Murmu said, adding, “He also assured me that I need not worry as the entire country is with me.”

    Appealing to the NDA legislators and parliamentarians to support her candidature in presidential polls, Murmu doubted whether she could do justice for Jharkhand as she did while being the Governor.

    Later, Murmu surprised everyone by meeting JMM Chief Shibu Soren and his son Chief Minister Hemant Soren seeking support for her. She was also welcomed by the Soren duo at Chief Minister’s residence.

    Though the JMM is yet to decide on supporting Murmu or Yashwant Sinha, the delay in its decision despite showing its inclination is a matter of speculation.

    Reacting to the meeting of Droupadi Murmu with the Soren duo, state Congress chief Rajesh Thakur said that if the JMM keeps away with the UPA candidate in presidential polls, it would not give a good message to the people of Jharkhand. He, however, said that everyone is free to make their own decision as the alliance was formed only for the contesting elections and not for voting in presidential polls.

    Notably, Murmu was sworn in as Governor of Jharkhand in 2015 and has the credit of becoming the first Governor to complete full-term (2015-2021) in the state. Murmu’s term as Governor remained uncontroversial and it was she who refused to give assent to a bill approved by the Assembly seeking amendments to the Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act (CNT), 1908, and the Santhal argana Tenancy Act (SPT), 1949 in the wake of widespread agitation by tribals all over the state.

    Not only that, she questioned decisions’ of the state governments on several occasions, but always with constitutional dignity and decency.

  • ‘Symbol of poor and tribal segments’: Akali Dal backs Droupadi Murmu for President

    By IANS

    CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday decided to support NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu in the forthcoming presidential poll “as she symbolises the cause of minorities, the exploited and backward classes as well as the women and has emerged as a symbol of the poor and tribal segments in the country”.

    “While our serious reservations with the BJP over the prevailing atmosphere of mounting divisive and communal polarisation, especially the growing insecurity in the minds of the members of the minority communities, under the NDA government remains strongly intact, SAD is eventually inspired and guided by the ideals placed before humanity in supporting Murmu as she not only symbolises the dignity of womenfolk but also belongs to the downtrodden,” said a resolution passed by the core committee of the party.

    Giving details of the meeting, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal told the media here the party was also concerned over the dangers posed to human rights, especially to the democratic values like religious tolerance and freedom of speech.

    “The party will never swerve from its core pro-Punjab, pro-minority, pro-farmers and pro-poor agenda. But in the presidential poll in question, the options before the party is either to support the candidate sponsored and supported by the Congress and its direct and indirect allies, or to be led by its conviction based on the ideals of great guru ‘sahiban’. We have chosen to go by the latter,” he said.

    Badal also highlighted that several issues related to the Sikh community and Punjab remained unresolved and that the party was committed to doing its utmost to ensure they reached their logical conclusion.

    He said these included securing the release of all Sikh detenues whose sentences had been commuted by the Central government on the occasion of 550th Prakash Purb of Guru Nanak Dev, handing over Chandigarh to Punjab as well as other issues like ensuring the status of Panjab University was not changed.

    The SAD president, who also met Murmu here along with senior party members, offered the support of SAD to her.

    He informed Murmu, who had earlier rung up the SAD President to seek support of her candidature, that the party’s core committee had taken a unanimous decision to support her.